Chief Executive's Report

June 2020 Chief Executive’s Report Kiltipper Park About the Chief Executive’s Report Contents South Dublin County Council’s Chief Executive’s Report is presented to elected members at Council 22 every month and details important achievements across our various departments whilst highlighting key statistics and images from events that took place that month. Statistics Report The report also highlights major news pieces and puts a focus on an area of the Council that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. 06 HOUSING SOCIAL AND 24 04 LUPT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Finance Report Highlights from Land Use Planning and Transportation. 25 Images of the Month ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE AND 08 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Features 14 IRELAND’S FIRST MEDIA PARK The Council has agreed to the sale of 48 acres at Grange Castle Business Park. 16 ROAD SAFETY DURING COVID Tips for drivers during the Government’s CORPORATE PERFORMANCE AND five-step lockdown exit plan. 10 CHANGE MANAGEMENT 18 CELEBRATING PRIDE The Council flies the Pride flag at Council offices throughout June. COUNCIL FOCUS 20 A look at the Council libraries’ Creative Studio plans for North Clondalkin. ENVIRONMENT WATER AND 12 CLIMATE CHANGE 3 Eco-Cycle Counter There is one Eco-Cycle Counter in the functional area of South Dublin County Council, which is LAND USE PLANNING AND situated in Rathfarnham on the Grange Greenway. This cycle track is fully off-road and shares its TRANSPORTATION space with pedestrians. The results in use in comparison with last year are astounding as the Grange Greenway has experi- enced an increase of 65% in the number of cyclists during the COV- ID-19 lockdown period. The landscaping of this pathway, as carried out by South Dublin County Council Public Realm, further creates a peaceful and safe environment, abounding with biodiversity. The Grange Greenway measures just under 1km and is a URDF Applications link from Grange Road in Rath- Two Urban Regeneration Development farnham to Barton Road East in Funding applications were submitted to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County the Department of Housing, Planning and Council. Local Government by the deadline of 29 May. The applications seek funding to deliver new transport, utility and community infrastructure for Clonburris and Adam- stown to support the delivery of much needed new homes. process for planning application Construction Resumes Planning Offices Reopen and Part 8 developments. In this context, customers will be facili- In line with the Governments tated and encouraged to engage Phase 1 plans to reopen the s of Monday 25 May, South in public consultation; plans and Country, construction projects Dublin County Council particulars for developments are have recommenced on-site. As A planning offices are open available at www.sdcc.ie. The part of this, construction has to the public during normal office public can make submissions restarted on the delivery of new hours. The public planning counter on Part 8s through the Council’s connections and bridges in the will provide access to planning Consultation Portal. In relation to Dodder Valley, on improvements applications and Part 8 documenta- planning applications, the Council along Monastery Road, the de- tion in a manner that ensures pub- is accepting fee payment by phone livery of a new road connecting lic health and safe social distanc- and third party submissions by post Belgard North to Cookstown Way ing requirements can be observed and email. and the delivery of a new part of by staff and customers. This will Tandy’s Lane in Adamstown. Nu- include provision for attendance by South Dublin County Council has Planning Offices Reopen merous private developers have members of the public by appoint- continued to assess planning The planning offices in County Hall also restarted their construction ment only, for an initial period. applications and make decisions on have reopened to the public. projects across the County. All them during the COVID-19 restric- construction projects must follow The Council recognises that the tions, where possible. As part of the strict social distancing require- planning function is a key ele- Roadmap to Reopening the Country, ments on site. ment in our economy and that site inspections will recommence public consultation is an essential in line with safe social distancing Construction has resumed throughout the County. component of the decision making requirements. 4 5 Physical Activity Programmes While COVID-19 has caused the postponement of sports programmes with schools and in HOUSING SOCIAL AND community settings, as part of the national In This Together phase of the Community Response, our COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT teams in South Dublin County Sports Partnership (SCDSP) and our Sports and Recreation Office have been busy devising new and creative programmes to help residents of the County, young and old, to maintain physically active lifestyles as part of our overall health and wellbeing work. During the initial phase of COV- ID-19 lockdown, SDCSP partnered with local fitness experts to provide regular online fitness classes through Facebook including aerobics, yoga, Pilates and Marathon Families children’s athletics. The athletics Building on the success of the Mara- programme was circulated to thon Kids initiative, the Council’s Sports primary schools who were asked and Recreation team are now launching to promote the sessions amongst Marathon Families 2020. This initiative, pupils. Now SDCSP are running a starting in June, provides families with the four-week, virtual “Couch to 3k” opportunity to complete a marathon to- programme. This programme pro- gether during Phase 2 of Ireland’s Roadm- vides an easy, step by step weekly ap for Re-Opening as it can be completed plan to help people attain a goal within a 5km radius of a person’s home. of jogging 3km within 28 days. Housing First vides long-term homeless persons with their own secure accommo- Aftercare Support s part of the Council’s dation, complemented by access The Council is conscious of the response to COVID-19, we to intensive, specialised support dramatic effect that cocooning is A have been committed to services. It is focused on ending having on older persons, people a range of supports for homeless homelessness for people who have with a disability and other vul- persons in the County. Our Home- been homeless for many years or nerable people, coupled with the less Unit has continued to engage who are particularly vulnerable possibility of people within such with persons sleeping rough and and the Council, with the support groups having difficulties access- in emergency accommodation of the Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT), ing the internet to participate in including accelerating offers of is committed to its implementation activities. accommodation to minimise and by offering accommodation that is mitigate against infection risks. A followed up by engagement with To combat this, SDCSP have key part of this response has been mainstream health, social welfare, partnered with Tallaght Universi- to provide ‘Housing First’ tenancies employment, and other services. ty Hospital and Stewart’s Care in to longer-term homeless persons Housing First Palmerstown on a pilot pro- with seven such tenancies offered Our Housing First work is in addi- The Council has continued to tackle gramme that provides a number since March along with a further tion to ongoing COVID-19 related homelessness during COVID-19. of mobile tablet devices. Exercise HAP tenancy also provided – these supports for homeless persons videos, information and other are in addition to two tenancies including enhanced emergency ac- supports are also downloaded on offered before COVID-19 emerged. commodation services, cocooning/ to these tablets for use. isolation facilities, social distancing Support is available for older persons, people with a disability and other The Housing First model is a par- measures, accelerated allocations vulnerable people. ticipant-led programme that pro- and re-let works. 6 7 Online Safety Classes Beginning on 20 May, online safety classes have begun to be delivered live by the libraries’ ECONOMIC ENTERPRISE AND fantastic education team to support children in 3rd to 6th class to be smart digital citizens. Each TOURISM DEVELOPMENT webinar lasts twenty minutes and will have an optional follow-on assignment. The sessions follow 13-year old Emma and 9-year old Eoin and cover a range of online safety issues that will encourage kids to solve different problems: Week 1 - Get your CyberSafe check up! Week 2 - Social Media and Gaming Week 3 - Be proud of your Digital Footprint Week 4 - Do not believe everything History at Your Fingertips you see! History at Your Fingertips is a series of on- The classes take place on Wednes- line local history and genealogy activities, days at 12.30 pm for four weeks workshops and events by South Dublin and are repeated for a further four Libraries during June. Online talks include weeks due to demand. the History of Tallaght with local studies librarian Michael Keyes and recorded lectures from the Tallaght Historical Soci- ety’s archive. Find out more on www.sdcc. ie or South Dublin libraries’ social media The Council is now tak- Phase 2 (8 June), are encouraged to Creative Writing ing applications for the apply now for the Restart Grant on South Dublin Libraries have cre- €250m Restart Grant www.sdcc.ie. ated an innovative opportunity for beginning and emerging writ- he Minister for Business, To avail of the Restart Grant, ers to engage on a one-to-one Enterprise and Innovation, applicants must be a commercial basis with a published author. T Heather Humphreys TD, business, be in the Council’s Com- recently announced that the ap- mercial Rates Payment System and: We have partnered with ac- plication form for the new €250m claimed poet and fiction writer Restart Grant providing direct grant • have an annual turnover of Brian Kirk to deliver a series aid to micro and small businesses less than €5m and employ of “writers’ surgeries”, where is now available online on all local between 1 to 50 people; selected participants submit a authority websites.

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